Social Innovation Forum Applicant Information Session WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 2014
Agenda Overview Our Innovators Selection Process Frequently Asked Questions
Overview
Our Mission Root Cause s Social Innovation Forum provides a unique opportunity for innovative nonprofits and social enterprises to gain visibility, expand their networks, and build capacity. Each year, we partner with leading local funders to identify and support a small number of Social Innovators, generally one per social issue track.
Our Approach Select Announce Support Showcase Measure 5
Goals for Social Innovators Better understand their position in the social impact market Better articulate the uniqueness and effectiveness of their social impact models Scale up their marketing and communications efforts Build a relationship map to focus their networking and development efforts Develop and track a set of measureable outcomes, leading to increased program performance and social impact Attract new funders, advisors, and other supporters
Our Impact The Social Innovation Forum has held 11 Showcase events and recognized 70 Social Innovators and Impact Entrepreneurs since its founding in 2003 The 2014 Showcase attracted over 325 attendees Our selection process and program bring together more than 1,500 philanthropists, foundation staff, businesspeople, and government officials who are interested in supporting innovative, effective approaches to important social issues As of June 2014, we have directed more than $15 million in cash and in-kind services to our Social Innovators Since last May, our 2012 Social Innovators have collectively won more than $500,000 in new funding that they directly or indirectly attribute to the Social Innovation Forum
Our Innovators
Selected Past Social Innovators
2014 Social Innovators AFC Mentoring Coaching4Change Doc Wayne Youth Services Mill City Grows Veterans Legal Services
2012 Social Innovator: InnerCity Weightlifting Jon Feinman, Executive Director and Founder InnerCity Weightlifting (ICW) improves the life trajectories of Boston s youth at the highest risk for violence by providing compelling opportunities for them to avoid violence and choose productive paths. Using the sport of weightlifting to get gang-involved young people off the streets and into the gym, ICW builds meaningful relationships and a support network for each student.
Selection Process
2014-2015 Nonprofit Social Issue Tracks Anything Goes: Innovative, Effective, and Sustainable Approaches to our Region's Toughest Social Issues Track Sponsor: Boston Open Impact Expanding Access to the Arts: Artistic and Cultural Enrichment for Low-Income Communities in the Greater Boston Area Track Sponsor: Highland Street Foundation Pathways to Education, Training, and Employment for Opportunity Youth Track Sponsor: State Street Foundation Supporting Successful Transitions to Adulthood for Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Track Sponsor: John. W Alden Trust SUSTAINABILITY* *Please note that due to the strong interest in this issue area, we will have two sustainability-focused tracks for the 2014-2015 program year. Building Healthy and Sustainable Communities for All Track Sponsor: Osprey Foundation Urban Sustainability: Greener and More Resilient Cities Track Sponsor: Schrafft Charitable Trust 13
Impact Investing Accelerator In addition to our nonprofit accelerator: Impact Investing: Connecting Social Enterprises to Capital Sponsoring Partner: The Devonshire Foundation For our 2014-2015 program, the Social Innovation Forum will also select a cohort of four to eight Impact Entrepreneurs who will receive a distinct package of consulting, coaching, and in-kind support, as well as access to the Social Innovation Forum s investor community to better position them to access needed capital. The Impact Investing accelerator has a unique application and selection process. Prospective applicants for the Impact Investing accelerator should go to rootcause.org/become-an-impact-entrepreneur.
Eligibility Guidelines Are a registered 501(c)(3) or use a fiscal agent that is a 501(c)(3) Address specific social need as described in at least one of our social issue tracks Are working primarily in the greater Boston area (within Route 495), unless otherwise noted in the track description Have been operating for at least one cycle (usually a year) and have a proven concept Have a minimum of 1.5 FTE s (counting full and part-time staff, not volunteers) Have an annual operating budget of $100,000 - $2 million* Are at an interesting inflection point in their growth and development *Note: Organizations with budgets greater than $2 million are welcome to submit an application for a specific program/initiative that has a total budget of less than that amount. In these cases, the entire application must refer to the program/initiative, not the parent organization. Please note that the Anything Goes track has unique requirements. This tracks is intended for organizations that do not fit any of this year s other social issue tracks. Organizations that apply for the Anything Goes track should not apply to any other track this year. This track will only accept applications from stand-alone organizations. Programs of larger organizations will not be considered, although the parent organization may submit an application if its budget is under $2 million. Organizations with a fiscal sponsor will be considered. 15
Benefits to Social Innovators Each Social Innovator receives access to cash and benefits valued at more than $135,000: Five months of consulting services focused on enhancing the organization s ability to articulate the social problem it is addressing, its innovative approach, and its social impact, culminating in the development of a written investment prospectus and a five-minute pitch designed for funder/investor audiences. Five months of executive coaching $10,000 cash upon completion of the consulting engagement Showcasing via numerous events, including a spring Showcase (Thursday, May 7, 2015) that annually attracts more than 300 Boston business leaders, institutional funders, and individual philanthropists Networking and relationship-building support Graphic design services Presentation coaching Additional support from the Social Innovation Forum s in-kind partners (e.g., legal, graphic design, PR, technology)
Benefits to Social Innovators cont. Root Cause Five-month consulting engagement $25,000 Social Innovation Forum Coordination of services Events, outreach, and materials $35,000 In-Kind Partners Executive coaching Presentation skills coaching Public relations services Legal services Graphic design support Data management consulting Development consulting Upwards of $55,000 Root Cause or In-Kind Partner Follow-on consulting engagement 18 months out of the program $10,000 Track Sponsor Direct, pass-through grant $10,000 Total Benefits Accessible to Social Innovators (Est.) $135,000 17
Application Process Nomination and Evaluation Committees Partners and Sponsors Jun. 4 Launch Jul. 15 First-round application due Aug. 4 Secondround invitations issued Aug. 28 Second-round application due Oct. 23 Nov. 7 Final-round interviews Dec. 1 Innovators notified Nonprofit Community 18
First vs. Second Application First application: Overview and fit with social issue track Basic contact and organizational information Social impact model and social need Program outputs Program outcomes List of board members Proof of 501(c)(3) status or fiscal agent Statement of Agreement Second application: More detailed understanding Long-term vision Self-identified areas for growth Organizational history, including key accomplishments Detailed financial information, including recent financial statements Resume(s) of leader(s) who will engage in the Social Innovation Forum
Output vs. Outcome Outputs are the direct, short-term results of an organization s activities. Outputs are often helpful indicators of the size and/or scope of an organizations work. For example: Number of participants Number of volunteers Number of programs offered Percentage of participants completing the program Average number of program hours per participant Outcomes are units of measurement that assess an organization's long-term results, or progress toward addressing its target social problem. For example: Percentage of participants demonstrating improved conflict resolution skills Percentage of participants who graduate from college Percentage of participants employed upon program completion
Review Process Social Innovation Forum staff and track sponsors will review first-round applications to ensure that applicants meet our basic eligibility requirements and are a good fit for at least one of our social issue tracks. A 10- to 15-person evaluation committee composed of funding partners and issue experts will read and score second-round applications. For each social issue track, we will invite four to six organizations to attend a half-day interview session with a small team of evaluators. We will then perform due diligence on our top candidates before finalizing our selections and notifying Innovators on December 1 st. 21
Frequently Asked Questions Organizations do not have to be nominated by a member of our nomination committee; you are welcome to nominate yourself at www.rootcause.org/become-a-socialinnovator You may apply as a program or initiative of a larger organization* Organizations may apply to multiple tracks, but must submit a separate application tailored to each track* If your organization has applied before, you must still submit a 2014-2015 application The time commitment is about six hours per week from January 2015 to May 2015 and a few hours per month from May 2015 to September 2016 *Except on Anything Goes. See track paragraph for unique requirements.
Q&A
Thank You! Susan Musinsky, Director smusinsky@rootcause.org Work: 617.649.1527 Cell: 617.803.7411 Anna Trieschmann, Program Coordinator atrieschmann@rootcause.org Work: 617.647.1535 Cell: 847.767.6925 Katie Barnett, Associate Director kbarnett@rootcause.org Cell: 617.921.4070 Carolyn Shaughnessy, Senior Manager of Social Impact Investing Community cshaughnessy@rootcause.org Work: 617.299.2188 Rebecca Price, Impact Investing Track Consultant rprice@rootcause.org Cell: 860.388.7135 Social Innovation Forum Fellows Christine Kim, ckim@rootcause.org Emily Snider, esnider@rootcause.org Rachel Shaheen, rshaheen@rootcause.org For organization-specific questions and/or tech support, email socialinnovationforum@rootcause.org or call 617.649.1538. Also, please let us know if you re planning to apply via email, on the phone, or right after this session!